Barrister Babu

Chapter 48: Set Y'all On Fire

"Zamindar Babu! Come out!" a bunch of villagers called out late-night, disturbing Trilochan's sleep.

Bondita, who was anxiously waiting in Anirudh's study, got out along with Trilochan, Keth, Mala, Chameli, and Batuk.

Surprisingly, Batuk's sleep also got disturbed, despite being a deep sleeper.

"Kya hua?" Trilochan asked grumpily to the villagers.

"Barrister Babu helped my daughter escape!" Jaswant hollered, stepping in front of Trilochan. His eyes were burning in rage as it fell on Bondita.

Instinctively, Batuk stood in front of his boudi, protecting her from that gaze.

"What rubbish is this? Why will my Anirudh help your daughter escape?" Trilochan said with a frown.

"My Chandni was supposed to get married tomorrow, but Barrister Babu and Bondita Malkin must have poisoned her mind and provoked her to run away!" Jaswant pointed out. "What will happen now? What will I answer to the boy's family tomorrow? They will come with the baraat. My reputation is ruined!"

Trilochan rolled his eyes. "My Anirudh and Bahu didn't do anything. You must have done something for your daughter to run away."

"If so, then call Barrister Babu," suggested one of the villagers as color drained from Bondita's face. Obviously, Anirudh wasn't there.

"Sure," Keth let out calmly and turned to Bondita. "Go and call Anirudh. Let's end this fiasco. I need sleep."

Bondita stayed quiet as a wide smirk appeared on Mala's face. She saw Anirudh going somewhere but he didn't return yet. Because if he did, she would've known as she was secretly waiting for her Anirudh Babu too.

If I say something, the villagers will get angry at Bondita. This is perfect, wondered Mala as she cleared her throat.

"Ji... Anirudh Babu is not at home..." Mala said to Keth, but on purpose, she said it aloud for the villagers to hear.

Instantly, Trilochan glanced at Bondita. One glance at his bahu and he knew that what Jaswant said was true. However, he had to save his son and bahu. So he said, "Oh, right. Anirudh went out for some important work. He told me before going."

"That's a lie!" Jaswant let out. "Barrister Babu's important work is helping my daughter escape, isn't it? He definitely took her somewhere for pursuing her higher studies. I knew it that sending her to school was a bad decision."

"No, Kaka, it wasn't a bad decision," this time, Bondita spoke up, moving past Batuk. "Chandni knows what she wants and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone has a right to education, so Chandni got her right. How can this be a bad decision?"

"I was okay with her going to school, but now, by seeing you, she wants to study more." Jaswant sharply looked at Bondita. "Bondita Malkin, your husband is too much open-minded, so he sent you to London all alone for education. But forgive me, I cannot send my daughter away simply for education. I cannot risk her safety or put her reputation in jeopardy."

"Jaswant Kaka, trust is an important factor here. My patibabu trusted me, that's why he sent me to London. So can't you trust your own daughter?"

"It seems like Bondita Malkin was the one who poisoned Chandni's mind," spoke one of the village women.

"Yes. By hearing her words, it seems so. Bondita Malkin herself got education, now she is helping others escape. What kind of education is that?" another woman said.

"You didn't do the right thing, Bondita Malkin!" hollered a man. "Zamindar Babu, you need to do justice to us. If Barrister Babu and Bondita Malkin continue to help our daughters escape, where is our security? They are barristers, so they might end up putting us even in jail."

"Aren't they using their power in a wrong way then?" said another man.

"We need justice! Find me my daughter, Zamindar Babu!" an agitated Jaswant grumbled.

"Look," Trilochan sucked in a deep breath and spoke up, "Let Anirudh come. We are not sure yet that he took Chandni away. So don't jump to conclusions."

"So are you saying you won't help us, Zamindar Babu?"

"Baba said he will. Let Anirudh come," Keth defended.

All of a sudden, a woman picked up a stone and threw it at Bondita. It hit Bondita's forehead and she winced in pain.

"Ah!" Bondita's hand went to her forehead, only to realize it was bleeding.

"Boudi!" Batuk stood in front of Bondita again, covering her from the villagers.

"How dare you hit my bahu?" Trilochan angrily stomped his stick.

Chameli froze seeing the scenario. She took a step back in fear, tears pouring out of her eyes.

Mala smirked again and cunningly, took a step back inside the house, to avoid getting injured. "Ji, I am getting scared," she said dramatically to Keth, who stood in front of her.

"Nothing will happen, Mala," he assured her.

"This is all this Bondita Malkin's fault!" a woman called out. "Due to her, our daughters are getting out of hand."

"Yes! She deserves hell! She is causing a sin and also dragging others into her sin!" another woman took a stone and started to throw, but couldn't as Batuk shielded her.

"Batuk, move," Bondita whispered to him. "You will get hurt. This is my fight. Let me do this."

"Have you gone crazy, Boudi? You go inside!"

Bondita shook her head in denial. "I won't go. These villagers can do whatever they want!" With that, she stepped out of Batuk's shield and said confidently, "You can do whatever you want, but it won't change the fact that we, women deserve education. If you women, who are throwing stones at me, were educated, I am pretty sure this wouldn't have been happening now. Education is important. I am here, taking a stand for myself because I am educated. I won't hide away."

"Bahu, what are you doing?" Trilochan mumbled, but she ignored him.

"Are you saying you have helped my Chandni?" Jaswant asked sternly.

A small smile appeared on Bondita's lips as she confidently lifted her head and gazed at Jaswant. "Chandni wants to be independent. She made her own choice and I have only helped her in pursuing her dream, which should've been something her parents have done." Jaswant's face turned pale at the insult. "So if helping a woman in achieving her dreams makes me a criminal, then here I am, Bondita Roy Chawdhary, standing in front of you. Throw as many stones as you want to me, but I won't stop helping women."

The villagers started chattering amongst themselves, gasping at her revelation.

"Boudi, what are you doing? Please stop," Batuk begged almost.

"Yes, Bondita," spoke Keth. "Your forehead is bleeding. Go inside. Mala will treat your wounds."

Before Bondita could speak, a villager said, "Bondita Roy Chawdhary, we don't support you. If you don't regret your actions, then you deserve to get punished!"

Some villagers lifted a few stones, while others took their shoes in their hands.

Bondita closed her eyes, prepared to face the wrath of the villagers.

"Try throwing anything on my wife and I swear to Dugga Maa, I will set y'all on fire," a voice came all of a sudden and Bondita opened her eyes, glancing at the corner.

There he was, Anirudh Roy Chawdhary — her patibabu — his eyes bloodshot red in anger.

A/N: Next update when there is at least 20 comments. Thank you for waiting patiently as I have been dealing with some personal stuff! Trust me, I was as eager to write as y'all were eager to read! Love y'all. ❤️